Like many pivotal American Civil War battlefields in the South, there is not much left. Kennesaw Mountain is part of The Atlanta Champaign, but the Battle of Atlanta proper, has this small slice in honor of one of the U.S. Armies most popular leaders: Major General James Birdseye McPherson (November 14, 1828 – July 22, 1864). In fact, he was popular with many officers in the Confederate command, for his fair treatment of the vanquished of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

The park is so obscure I passed it twice without noticing the tiny partial. It is possibly the smallest Civil War Park in the nation.

The 35 year old West Pointer was the second highest ranking solider killed in the war and was mourned by advisories Generals John B. Hood and Joseph E. Johnston. It is located near East Atlanta Village.

Marietta Confederate Cemetery:

“Marietta Confederate Cemetery is the largest Confederate cemetery south of Richmond, Virginia and is located in Marietta, Georgiaadjacent to the larger Marietta City Cemetery.

The Marietta Confederate Cemetery is one of the largest burial grounds for Confederate dead. It is the resting place to over 3000 soldiers from every confederate state and Maryland, Missouri and Kentucky.

The cemetery was established in 1863 as a gift from Jane Glover who was the wife of Marietta’s first mayor. It sits on the site of a former Baptistchurch that was later moved to a new location in downtown Marietta and the land was acquired by John Glover – Marietta’s first mayor.

Soldiers killed in the battles of Chickamauga in Tennessee, and Kolb’s Farm and Kennesaw Mountain from the Atlanta campaign are interred there.” – Wikapedia

3D like virtual tour of Chickamauga Creek, Brotherton Farm, Snodgrass Hill and Missionary Ridge. This tour follows the route of the 41st Tennessee* with Gregg’s Brigade at Chickamauga and with Maney’s Brigade at Missionary Ridge. Gregg’s Brigade had previously fought at Raymond, Mississippi in the Vicksburg Champaign. They would go on to fight in the Atlanta Champaign and Hood’s invasion of Middle Tennessee. They 41st were annihilated with Strahl’s Brigade at the Carter House in the Battle of Franklin.

Tour points are being revised with high-res 18mm focus. This tour includes several of those.

Note: get the full screen experience by clicking the icon in the lower left of the video frame. A zoom option is available also for reading the historical signage. Some markers are embedded in the floating icons.

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*my GGF 2nd Lt. Walter Scott Bearden and his twin brother 3rd Lt. Edwin Bearden fought with the 41st Tennessee here. Edwin was severely wounded at Brotherton Farm, and was disabled after that. Walter found the same fate at Jonesboro, Georgia, wounded 3 times in the Battle of Atlanta.

Marker Signage

Day 1 Chickamauga 7 AM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION LONGSTREET’S CORPS BRIG. GEN. JOHN GREGG

SEPT. 19, 1863 – 1ST POSITION

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

The brigade moving from its bivouac a short distance in the rear, formed line of battle on this ground about 7 a.m. with Johnson’s Brigade on its right, and McNair’s Brigade in reserve. About 2 p.m. Heg’s and Carlin’s Union Brigades moved against the position from the direction of Viniard’s house. The brigade advanced with its division and soon became hotly engaged, fighting its way to a point near the LaFayette Road north of Viniard’s.

Day 2 Chickamauga 7 AM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION LONGSTREET’S CORPS COL. CYRUS A. SUGG

SEPTEMBER 20, 1863, 7 A.M.

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

The four regiments of this brigade first named above constituted the reserve of Johnson’s Division as it was formed early Sunday morning Sept. 20th for attack.

The remaining regiments were on the left of Johnson’s Brigade in the front line. The brigades advanced about 11:10 A.M. with its division in the general attack, penetrating the Union line to the west of the Brotherton house. Upon reaching the Dyer field the brigade changed direction toward the right and assisted in capturing 15 guns on the crest northeast of Dyer’s.

Day 2 Chickamauga 11:30 AM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION – LONGSTREET’S CORPS COL. CYRUS A. SUGG

SEPT. 20, 1863, 11.30 A.M. 2ND POSITION

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

This brigade was formed, in part, on the left of the division; the remainder, consisting of the first four regiments, was placed in a second line in rear as reserves. It advanced at 11.10 A.M. from the first crest east of the LaFayette Road. It occupied this line under heavy skirmish fire. In its advance towards the Dyer field it suffered greatly from the fire on a heavy force of the enemy, strongly posted to its right behind barricades of rails and fallen timber. The reserve passed to the front and the brigade dislodged this force, but with heavy loss. Upon reaching the Dyer field the brigade changed direction toward the right and assisted in capturing seventeen guns on the crest northwest of Dyer’s. The brigade next took part in the assault on Snodgrass Hill from the vicinity of Vittetoe’s.

Day 2 Chickamauga 2 PM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION – LONGSTREET’S CORPS

COL. CYRUS A. SUGG

SEPTEMBER 20, 1863, 2 P.M.

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

Just before 2 P.M. the brigade advanced from this position, under cover of artillery fire towards the central ridge, distant about 400 yards. It reached this latter position, passed the right of Brannan’s and encountered the head of Steedman’s Division on the northern slope of the ridge. After a severe engagement with Steedman’s Division, this brigade, with Johnson’s on its left, fell back to its guns. Anderson’s Brigade on it right was also repulsed. Manigault’s and Deas, having prolonged Johnson’s line to the left, the whole advanced, and was again pushed back to its guns. Near sunset the brigade with Johnson’s and the right of Manigault’s advanced again, and followed Steedman’s troops, which had then withdrawn, to the bottom of the ravine back of the central crest where they had fought. The line then withdrew to the crest and bivouacked. Strength in action, September 19, 1352. Casualties: Killed 109; Wounded 474; Captured or Missing 18; Total 601. Percentage of Loss 44.45.

Missionary Ridge two months later

MANEY’S BRIGADE

WALKER’S DIVISION – HARDEE’S CORPS BRIG. GEN. GEORGE MANEY

NOV. 25, 1863

41ST TENNESSEE COL. ROBERT FARQHARSON

This brigade was dispatched with its division the afternoon of Nov. 23rd from the line of earthworks between Chattanooga Creek and Lookout Mountain to missionary Ridge where it took position a mile south of the Tunnel to observe the enemy’s forces which had captured Orchard Knob. About 2 P.M. Nov. 25th Vlaney’s Brigade sent to Gen. Hardee, reached Tunnel Hill during the hottest of the fighting, and was posted at this point in rear of Smith’s Texas Brigade. The 1st and 27th Tennessee, Col. Field was advanced to the front of the works and in conjunction with the 2nd, 15th and 24th Arkansas (consolidated) Col. Warfield of Govan’ s Brigade, and the 56th and 36th Georgia or Cumming’ s Brigade, charged the enemy’s line driving them down the western slope and oeyond its foot. A return attack was repulsed by the 50th Tennessee and troops of Cleburne’s Division, capturing several colors and many prisoners.

National Civil War Naval Museum:

Home of the best American Civil War Navy collection in the country: Confederate warship, CSS Jackson, and the wreckage of the CSS Chattahoochee. A full scale ship replica of the USS Water Witch, a replica of the USS Hartford, a full scale replica of the USS Monitor’s famous turret. A dockside exhibit recreating Plymouth, NC, with an interior and exterior view of the CSS Albemarle.

Columbus, Georgia is on the Alabama – Georgia state line, which runs down the Chattahoochee River there. The Battle of Columbus is also known as the Battle of Girard, Alabama (now Phenix City, Alabama). The US Cavalry attacked the Confederates from the Alabama side of the river. The scenic Chattahoochee Riverwalk on the Georgia side, has many historical markers interpreting this last battle of the Civil War.

CSS Albemarle

The scene is Plymouth, North Carolina in October, 1864, as we see the famous Confederate Ironclad, CSS Albemarle sitting dockside. The ship is open to view both inside and out; a rare opportunity to get a glimpse inside a unique craft. The Albemarle is a classic Confederate Navy design, with a diamond hull and armored casemate. It was 150 feet long and carried two 6.4 inch Brooke Rifles mounted fore and aft, each able to pivot and shoot out of its three gunports. Take a 360º 3D like tour of the ship below.

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